The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-02-11
How to get a Free Farm in North
Dakota.

AS we all know, the public land of tho
United States is divided into land districts
| This and is surveyed and plais of the sep
arate townships are made at the Genera
Land Office, Washington, and sent TO the
land office of the particular district in
which the land may be. For instance, the
land office for Devils Lake land district to
North Dakota is at the town of Devils
Lake, on the Devils Lake extension of the
st. L nj. IL nj. Ry. Here is a Register
who records the filings made by the settlers
and keeps track of the disposal of the diff.
ferent lands. The Receiver" takes charge
of the moneys paid for public lands, and
is the authority 10 whom proof of settle
mcnt and compliance with the land laws
must be made 10 secure deed from the
Government, technically call proving up. y
lie also passes judgment on contests made
for non compliance with the require
ments of the land laws. In q district of
purely agricultural land like that of Devils
Lake there are three ways in which to
secure "A home; By taking Homestead"
''pre.emption" or tree claim, --l60 acres
is the maximum amount that can be "tlod
on in each case. A tree claim and home.
stead, or a presumption and Tree claim,
can be taken at the same time, but a pre-
emption cannot be taken before a home
stead is proved up or vice versa. The
prc-emption and homestead require resi-
dence TO secure title. Eight years is given
in which TO raise ten acres of trees on u
100 acre tree claim when deed will be
given. Thus it will be seen that ultimately
4SO acres of the public domain can be
secured under the operation of these laws
Having stated the theoretical rights of
our citizens under the present laws, we
will show the way to apply them in
practice. Thus, If person, tired of strug-
Cling for existence on the worn and high
priced land in the East, determines to come
West and grow up" with the country
the first thing to do on arrival will be to
go 10 the land Office and get plats of town
ships showing the quarter sections taken,
or still eligible for entry. This will cost
ST. each. With these he can proceed TO
the locality they designate, and by the
aid of the figures on the section stakes,
which he can easily learn TO read, can
make his selection. The settlers already
on the ground are very anxious to have
neighbors, and will often gratuitously as
sist in locating the intending home seek
er. The selection being made, the land
Office is again visited, where the Register
immigrant will fill out description of the
town, range, section, and make affidavit
of his intention to settle on the same.
These arc fled with The Register, and
the sum of $500 is paid, if the applicant
decides to make it homestead" after
which, at the expiration of five years the
Government will give deed without fur
Their expense, other than $6 when final
proof is made. If presumption, at ''pro
wing up" $1.25 per acre will be charged
additional. In making entry of 'tree
claim" S14 will be paid when filling" is
made, and like sum at the date of final
proof.
Bearing these facts In mind there is no
necessity of requiring the services of land
agents or locators, and other expenses than
those named, arc not necessary. The meth
DDS of procedure, both In finding unen-
tered lands, and in "filing" on them, is
very simple and with copy of the land
laws, and the plats to be had at the land
Office, tho settler can easily make his own
selections. -The Farmer. st. Paul.